Question

how does the phosphorus move in the arrows labeled c a
Via evaporation in the atmospheric phase
b
By eating plants and animals
c
Through waste elimination and death and decomposition
d
In soil uplifting and sea spray

Answer 1

In the context of the phosphorus cycle, option **c** - "Through waste elimination and death and decomposition" - accurately describes how phosphorus moves within ecosystems. Here’s a brief explanation of each option you mentioned:

a. **Via evaporation in the atmospheric phase**: Phosphorus does not move through the atmosphere via evaporation. This process primarily pertains to water and other gaseous substances, not phosphorus.

b. **By eating plants and animals**: While this option refers to the transfer of phosphorus between organisms when they consume plants and animals, it does not predominantly describe how phosphorus moves in the environment itself.

c. **Through waste elimination and death and decomposition**: This correctly identifies a key process in the phosphorus cycle. When organisms die or produce waste, phosphorus is returned to the soil, where it can be utilized again by plants through the decomposition of organic matter.

d. **In soil uplifting and sea spray**: This option does not accurately represent the primary mechanisms of phosphorus movement. While geological processes can incorporate phosphorus into soil, it is not a direct part of the phosphorus cycle in the same way.

Thus, for your question regarding the arrows labeled with "c," option **c** is clearly the most relevant to phosphorus movement in its cycle.